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Iconic wildlife park criticised

By James Randerson

CANADA’s oldest and most famous national park is failing the wildlife it was set up to protect. So claims a researcher who has found that black bears in Banff National Park in Alberta are dying in the same numbers as their unprotected cousins and that the park’s so-called “trouble” bears have a poorer chance of surviving than bears in some hunted populations.

Mark Hebblewhite at the University of Alberta in Edmonton blames his findings on the number of tourists visiting the park. He says their interests are being put before those of the animals. His claims will …